Shareshill Renewables
About this Project
Shareshill Renewables is a two-component project combining a large-scale solar farm at Tixall, Staffordshire, with a dedicated 50 MW battery energy storage system at Shareshill in South Staffordshire.
Both assets connect to the Bushbury Grid Supply Point, one of the most significant transmission nodes in the West Midlands, where National Grid’s 400kV network interfaces directly with NGED’s regional distribution infrastructure. The solar component at Tixall proposes 70 MWp of ground-mounted generation on 62 hectares of agricultural land, while the Shareshill BESS will provide two hours of storage to firm and balance the combined output. The project received planning approval for the solar element in June 2024 following a Stafford Borough Council committee debate, representing a significant step forward in Empower Projects’ West Midlands pipeline.
Planning Status and Milestones
The Tixall solar farm received planning approval on 12 June 2024 from Stafford Borough Council. The application was initially deferred in February 2024 pending additional information on flooding and screening. Key planning considerations included flooding risk from on-site springs, agricultural land classification, visual impact on the Cannock Chase National Landscape, and proximity to Tixall Conservation Area. The Shareshill BESS planning application has not yet been submitted. Grid offers for both components have been accepted at the Bushbury connection point. Connection cost for the Tixall solar is £20 million, with the BESS cost to be confirmed in the Gate 2 offer.
Connection Details
Both components connect to the Bushbury Grid Supply Point in north Wolverhampton, one of the West Midlands’ most critical transmission-distribution interface nodes. Bushbury operates at 400kV and supplies the Black Country and Wolverhampton urban areas. The solar farm exports at 49.9 MVA with zero import, while the BESS exports and imports at 49.9 MVA. Gate 2 grid securities are yet to be confirmed for both assets. The Bushbury node is under increasing demand pressure from multiple large-scale renewable connections in the pipeline.
Site and Surrounding Area
The Tixall solar site lies in the Trent Valley, 4 miles east of Stafford, immediately adjacent to Cannock Chase National Landscape and close to the Shugborough Estate, a National Trust property. The Trent and Mersey Canal passes nearby, and the area retains a predominantly rural agricultural character. Shareshill village, host to the BESS component, is a quiet South Staffordshire settlement between Wolverhampton and Cannock, within the Staffordshire Green Belt. The HS2 route corridor between West Midlands and Crewe passes through the broader project area.
Current Status
Planning
Approved (Solar) / Not Started (BESS)
Land
HOTs under Negotiation (Solar) /
Option with Solicitors (BESS)
Grid Offer
Offer Accepted (Both)
Development Phases
| Phase | Egremont PV | Egremont Wind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar (MWp) | 20 MWp | 9 MWp | |
| BESS (MW/Hr) | - | - | |
| Wind (MW) | - | 25 MW | |
| Grid AC | 25 MW | 25 MW | |
| Connection | BESS 2037 / Solar April 2026 | To Apply |